Soldiers’ group wants Palparan in ISAFP

CITING the presence of real and credible threats to the life of former Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, a newly formed group of active military officers and men on Sunday demanded that the former lawmaker be transferred from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP).

Sources from the newly created “Free Major General Jovito Palparan Movement” disclosed that they are committed to ensure his safety as they are also closely monitoring developments in his case.

The sources revealed that their group is composed of ordinary and middle ranked soldiers and is fully supported by a number of active top ranking officials.

The group’s primary agenda as of now, a source explained, is for Palparan to be detained at the ISAFP because of serious threats from a dedicated New People’s Army (NPA) hit squad that is out to get him.

“There are lots of us in the active service who are supporting Gen. Palparan. We have active generals [in our group], they are our silent supporters,” the source who requested anonymity told The Manila Times.

He said while Palparan remains in the NBI, “maximum security” should be enforced, and those assigned to secure the retired general should be well prepared against the suicide squad reportedly deployed by the NPA.

Another source noted that Palparan was a victim of political persecution and his close association with former President Gloria Arroyo may have done him in.

“In my own opinion, this is not the opinion of the 8th ID. For me, Gen. Palparan is a good soldier. The government should see to it that his rights would be respected. Otherwise, it will cause demoralization among soldiers that look up to him,” Gutierrez added.

Another source said soldiers risk their lives and limbs to contain the underground movement but in the end, they are being persecuted as “violators” of human rights.

“Where are these human rights advocates whenever our soldiers are killed in ambush by the communists?” he asked.

Senator Antonio Trillanes 4th also on Sunday supported the calls for the transfer of Palparan from the NBI to a military detention facility.

He also warned of possible demoralization among the soldiers if the government fails to ensure the security and safety of the retired officer.

Trillanes, a former Navy officer, confirmed that the threat to Palparan’s life is true and should not be taken lightly.

“We were informed of the existing threats to the life of Gen. Palparan. To make sure that he is secure, it would be best that he is transferred to a detention facility of the AFP,” the senator said.

A Malolos City Regional Trial Court last Wednesday ordered the transfer of the former military officer to the Bulacan Provincial Jail.

Trillanes clarified that his call to transfer Palparan to a military facility is not meant to absolve the former general of the charges he is facing.

“We are only aiming to ensure the he is protected from any act of retribution while he is in detention,” the senator explained.

Trillanes too
Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th also supported the calls for the transfer of Palparan to a military detention facility as he warned of a possible demoralization among the ranks of the soldiers if the government fails to ensure the former general’s security and safety.

Trillanes, a former Navy officer, confirmed that the threat on Palparan’s life is true and should not be taken lightly.

“We were informed of the existing threats to the life of Gen. Palparan. To make sure that he is secure, it would be best that he is transferred to a detention facility of the AFP,” the senator said.

According to him, if the AFP, as an institution, will not guarantee the protection of Palparan, it may cause demoralization among the ranks.

A Malolos Regional Trial Court on Wednesday ordered the transfer of the former military officer to the Bulacan Provincial Jail.

Trillanes however made it clear that his call to transfer Palparan to a military facility is not meant to absolve the former military officer of the charges he is facing.

“We are only aiming to ensure that he is protected from any acts of retribution while he is in detention,” the senator explained.

Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, chief of the military’s Public Affairs Office, however, said their hands are tied on the custody issue because Palparan is already retired from the service.

“We don’t have jurisdiction on him anymore, he has retired,” Zagala said. “We can only take into our custody active members of the AFP.”

But the AFP, Zagala added, has asked the court to take into custody Palparan’s co-accuse, Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado Jr. and Sgt. Edgardo Osorio, as they are still active members of the military.

Earlier, the 800-member Association of Generals and Flag Officers has denounced the trial by publicity being heaped by militant groups against Palparan.

AGFO president retired Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan said that the case of Palparan should not be linked to politics.

“Professional soldiers like Maj. Gen. Palparan faced hardships and risk, and had put his life on the line like countless Filipino soldiers in the service of the country, starting as a junior officer in the 1970s. His courage and leadership had saved lives and protected communities. His sacrifices should be taken into account,” he said.

Palparan, along with three others, were charged for the 2006 kidnapping of University of the Philippines (UP) students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan.

Maj. General Jovito Palparan is a patriot. He serve the country well. I am a Pil-Am. One time I meet an American who just retired from the US Army after over 30 years of service. He said the over the course of his active duty, He is often asked. What are they doing in the Army? He said they have a standard answer.They are defending their rights to be an ass-hole. Gen. Palparan did his patriotic duty in defending the country against the communist insurgents. He defended our right to live in peace. He defended the rights of those who are prosecuting him now. He defended the rights of those who are calling him names. The retired American Army man I meet is right. The Army does defend our right, even those who are ass-hole.
Gen. Palparan you are my Hero. a hero to many

For Free Major General Jovito Palparan Movement. Count me as your supporter as well. In retrospect, there was a “Black Saturday Mutiny” spearheaded by the Right Wing Soldiers inside Fort Bonifacio in 2007; and among those Officers that have thwarted the same led by then MGen Caneso, Commanding General of the Philippine Army was then Maj Jovito Palparan; and the succeeding military mutiny as well. Hence, the democratic institution in our country have been protected because of their heroism.

Now it is clear why media made Palparan as the butcher, since it is Pnoy regime, but during GMA’s time he is a hero until now many military men respected Palparan. I still believed that Palparan is a hero, maybe for the communist he is a butcher.
Retired military officers are still welcome in military hospitals how come Zagala said he cannot ensure that Palparan could be detained in an AFP facility. It seems that Zagala is also manipulated . The goverment should be very careful in treating this general , the sympathy of many active and retired militaries are still on Palparan , if he will be killed by the communist it might trigger a drastic action from the men in uniform.

Does the Queen of Pork Barrel scam Janet Lim Napoles and the three Senators deserve better treatment than a retired military officer who all his life served his country fighting against the NPA to preserve our democracy thereby preventing our countries fall to communism a Maoist led CPPA-NPA?

Gen. Palparan should be accorded with due respect and protection. He put his life on the line to protect our freedom. Remember freedom is NOT free. While in detention he is presumed innocent, under our Revised Penal Code, until proven otherwise. This is a fundamental tenets in law. So let us stop hurling invectives against him as if he is the worst animal on the planet. I salute Gen. Jovito Palparan for his for his patriotism and love of country by fighting against the communists and its misguided militant supporters who are out to subvert our God-given freedom. I call on all peace loving citizens of this country to stand up and defend Gen. Palparan.

So what if Palparan has retired (very poor reasoning of Zagala) he had served (since 1970) protecting our country from the NPA and destabilization of the gov’t therefore retired or not he deserved an ultimate protection so justice will be served . NPA will try to eliminate him because he knows too much of their crimes and injustices they portray for so many years

Some one ought to tell these soldiers that they join the army to serve the country. If they break the law they will be punished. Palparan is charged with abducting people & he will be tried in a court of law. They have no right to demand where he be kept in detention. If he is guilty of abducting people who were left wing activists & there is enough evidence then he will be found guilty & will spend the rest of his life behind bars. If he is innocent he will be freed but it seems strange he was afraid of the law, he ran , why well probably because he is guilty. I would agree if he was killing people who were killing other innocent people for their beliefs then i would exonerate him, but just because they have a different political view than we do doesnt give us the right to make them disappear.

It is the media who demonized Palparan as brutal violators of human rights. Does the Media have enough evidence to sustain their publicity or they just sided with the victims who themselves do not have sufficient evidence or the NPA who is truly the enemy of the military!

If Gen. Palparan is not rich until his capture, I would say he was a true soldier that should be accorded the highest respect of the Filipino people. Nowadays. it is very seldom for a soldier to reach the rank of general without enriching himself in the service.